Mockingbirds and Thrashers

A primer on the family Mimidae—mockingbirds, thrashers, catbirds, and tremblers—exploring their songs, mimicry, behaviors, evolution, and much more.

Episode:
124
Date:
October 31, 2025
Categories:

Listen to the Episode

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Summary

This is Episode 124. Host Ivan Phillipsen takes you on a tour of Mimidae—the New World family that includes mockingbirds, thrashers, catbirds, and tremblers. He describes the key features of these songbirds and what sets them apart.

Ivan explores the sounds that make this family famous: rich, extended songs, dazzling vocal control, and—for many species—impressive mimicry.

You'll also learn about mimid diversity and evolution, from North American backyards to Caribbean islands and desert specialists of the Southwest, plus a look at conservation challenges facing some species.

Links of Interest

Research Citations

Photos

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). Photo by raulbaena/Adobe.
Espanola Mockingbird (Mimus macdonaldi). Photo by Mark/Adobe.
Brown Thrasher (Toxostome rufum). Photo by kmm7553/Adobe.
Gray Catbird (Dumatella carolinensis). Envato.
Black Catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris). Photo by lenoragz/iNaturalist.
Blue Mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens). Photo by adkonings/iNaturalist.
Crissal Thrasher (Toxostoma crissale). Photo by adkonings/iNaturalist.
St. Lucia Thrasher (Ramphocinclus sanctaeluciae). Photo by mangoverde/iNaturalist.
Gray Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis). Photo by zahnerphoto/iNaturalist.

Attributions

  • Tropical Mockingbird sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC56033)
  • Chalk-browed Mockingbird sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC46868)
  • Blue Mockingbird sounds courtesy of Tierra de Aves (Xeno Canto recording XC910741 )
  • Brown Thrasher sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC136055)
  • California Thrasher sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC109832)
  • Gray Catbird sounds (Xeno Canto recordings XC922438 and XC134153)
  • Gray Trembler sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC590894)

This work by Ivan Phillipsen is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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